I have to say something to you new folks.
There has been information shared by well intending people that you have to have 2 cups of liquid in the IP to make it work correctly.
here is my link to the dreaded burn notices.
About the Dreaded “Burn” Notice IP & “To Stir or Not to Stir”.
I come from a place where I have owned and operated a couple dozen IPs over the years, several different models…and use 1 or more of them on a daily Basis. I am an experienced cook as well having been cooking for over 40 yrs. not trying to sound arrogant, I simply mean that I under stand the IPs and cooking.
These two pictures are both from Instant Pot and Both for the Same Exact Brand New To the Market Duo Crisp Air Fryer 8 q, where the only mention to liquid at all is in the trouble shooting area of either manual. This information can be confusing …especially to a new person. The one that came with mine is the one that says 1 1/2 c which is the same as what my manual states in the other 8 q that I Have as well so there is an obvious difference in info out there. Good thing I know that my 8 qts will come to pressure on their own with as little as one (Yes 1)cup of liquid. But this comes with experience. So many of you are trying to follow directions.
There are people that insist on using at least 2 c Liquid Even in a 6 q. Because SOME of the manuals say 2 c (Where it was originally advised IN the manuals to use 1 c.)
This can drastically change your end result, water log your recipes, and it can also null many of the recipes that have been put out there for the Instant Pot including recipes made by IP. I do want to add that if you have ORGANIC Chicken or natural Pork then you MAY need to add about 1/4 c more water to the recipe.
My advice, is to use your veggies like onions and those that hold a lot of liquid naturally at the bottom. They will give off their liquid as they come to pressure and while the food cooks inside the pot as they break down.
When they say to make sure to have enough liquid in the recipe to allow the pot to come to pressure and not get the burn notice, it does not have to mean that you can’t make your desired dish in the IP, and with the results that are your expectations.
If you are really in doubt, you can always use PIP pot in pot cooking, but eventually you will learn your pot, stay with it. Keep trying.
I am adding one of my recipes for pot roast to show that if you use the vegetables on the bottom your liquid will be more than what you started with. This is not a debate of weather or not you like the ingredients as much as it is to show how the veggies give up their liquid while cooking.
I hope this can help some of you that are cringing at adding 2 cups minimum of water/broth ONLY to the pot.